News article
15 April 2010
FDF response to British Medical Journal report on trans fats
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PRESS RELEASE
Responding to a report by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) claiming that
banning artificial trans fats in the UK could prevent 11,000 heart attacks and 7,000
deaths a year, Barbara Gallani, FDF’s Director of Food Safety and Science, says:
“We note that the BMJ report does not seem to quote any population intake levels
of trans fats and are concerned that a report that does not provide such
relevant information creates an unbalanced picture that could give rise to unnecessary
health concerns.”
“We agree that it is important to maintain a healthily balanced diet in which
trans fats are consumed within the safe levels recommended by the FSA and that is
why artificial trans fats have been virtually eliminated from processed foods in
the UK, due to a significant focus on reformulation by UK food manufacturers.
The success of this focus is reflected in new data results from the FSA’s National
Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) which indicate that intakes are at even lower
levels than shown by the previous NDNS results (now reportedly 0.8% (NDNS 2010),
down from 1.0% (NDNS 2000/2001) – well below the recommended maximum TFA intake
of 2% of food energy.”
“As such the UK government has recently concluded that trans fats at these
levels do not pose health risks to UK consumers, an opinion with which we concur.
This position was also reflected in the lack of support in the Scottish Parliament
for the recent proposal to ban trans fat which was overturned this week.”
More Information
- FDF Press team
-
Cath Wilkins on [email protected] or 020 7420 7132
-
Sarah Lovell on [email protected] or 020 7420 7131
-
Rebecca Wilhelm [email protected] or 020 7420 7140
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